Mumbai: Mumbai Police on Tuesday issued a notice to activist Manoj Jarange and his team, directing them to vacate Azad Maidan, where he has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding Maratha quota, officials confirmed.

According to an officer, the notice was issued by the Azad Maidan police after protesters failed to comply with pre-agitation conditions set by the police in line with the Bombay High Court’s directives.

Jarange’s fast at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai entered its fifth day on Tuesday, continuing his push for Maratha community inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for reservation benefits.

The high court has asked his supporters to vacate all streets in the city by Tuesday noon and restore normalcy.

Noting that Mumbai was "literally paralysed" due to Maratha agitation, which has violated all conditions and brought the city to a standstill, the HC on Monday stated it was giving an "opportunity" to Jarange and protesters to ensure all streets are vacated and cleaned by Tuesday noon.

Jarange remains firm on his demand for Maratha inclusion in the OBC category, which he insists is essential for the community to access reservation benefits.

PTI